Robert Bernard Ibbs
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Robert Bernard was the only son of Frederick William Ibbs and his wife Clara Anna nee Langley. Frederick William Ibbs was born on 27 November 1864 in Kimbolton, Huntingdonshire, (baptised Kimbolton 27 March 1864), the son of Robert and Charlotte Ibbs. Clara Anna Langley was born in Nottingham on 31 March 1865 (A/M/J Radford). They were married in 1887 (O/N/D Nottingham) and had three children of whom only two survived, Robert Bernard b. 1888 (O/N/D Nottingham) and Eva Clara probably b. 22 December 1894 (1895 J/F/M Nottingham). In 1891 Frederick (27), a clerk, and Clara (26) were living on Grove Road, Lenton, with their son Robert (2). By 1901 they had moved to 4 Gregory Avenue, Lenton. Frederick (37) was now described as a railway clerk. He and Clara (36) now had two children, Robert (12) and Eva (6). The family was still at the same address in 1911. Robert (22) was a telephone mechanic while Eva (16) was an art student. Frederick and Clara were still living at 4 Gregory Avenue when Robert died in 1915 and were still living in Lenton at the time of the national register in 1939. Frederick by then was a retired railway clerk. Frederick died on 4 February 1947. His widow Clara died the same year on 9 September 1947; the address on the Probate record was 6 Gregory-Avenue, New Lenton. Administration was awarded to Eva Clara Evans, 'married woman'. There is a record of an Ena (sic) C Ibbs marrying George E Evans in 1922 (A/M/J Nottingham) and an entry on the 1939 England & Wales Register of a Clara Evans living at 'Lynton' Enw Wen, Welshpool, Montgomeryshire, with her husband George E Evans (b. 8 August 1901), a railway inspector on the permanent way (maintenance staff), and two children Glenys E Evans b 3 September 1922 an unemployed waitress, and Wyndham N Evans b. 27 February 1924 a timber merchant's office boy. Although Clara's date of birth is given on the register as 9 August 1893 there is also a record of an Eva Clara Evans, b. 22 December 1884, who died in 1976 (Jun Carnarvon) aged 81. Given this and the information on the Probate record for Clara Anna Ibbs (1947) it seems likely that this was her daughter.
According to a contemporary report by a comrade, Robert died 'whilst digging a new trench in front of our lines.' He died of his wounds and is buried in Lala Baba Cemetery, Turkey (grave ref. 2.A.2) The award of 'Mentioned in Dispatches' was published in the London Gazette on 13 July 1916.
CWGC: personal inscription on gravestone, 'Peace perfect peace' Boots 'Comrades in Khaki', November 1915, 'Narratives from the Orient'. QMS Twigg SNH wrote regularly to 'Comrades in Khaki' and this short extract is from a long letter sent after landing in Gallipoli on the 18th; 'Snipers and chance shots have wounded several more since [21st]. Bernard Ibbs, well-known amongst Lenton cricketers was killed whilst digging a new trench in front of our lines.' (Nottinghamshire Archives, RB.38) Nottinghamshire Evening Post, 'Roll of Honour', 20 September 1915: “IBBS. – Killed in action, on the 28h August, Corporal Bernard Ibbs, South Notts. Hussars, of Lenton, age 26 years. – From sorrowing parents and sister.” Photograph of grave and above notice from the Nottingham Evening Post courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages. Probate: Ibbs Robert Bernard of 4 Gregory-avenue New Lenton lance-corporal in his Majesty’s Army died 29 August 1915 at Gallipoli Administration (with Will) Nottingham 26 November to Clara Anna Ibbs (wife of Frederick William Ibbs). Effects £134 1s. 2d. Probate: Ibbs Clara Anna of 6 Gregory-street Old Lenton Nottingham widow died 9 September 1947 Administration Nottingham 21 June to Eva Clara Evans married woman. Effects £246.
